Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World

my all time fave......the song i listen to when i want to write, when I think about a special person and when I want to relax!

read us, need us

If books could talk, they would probably be begging me to read them, need them.

Every night they lie there at my beside longing for my attention. Waiting for me to hold and read them and every night I just turn my back and ignore them.

Happyness.......

finally, after four years my poor blog site has a follower - that for me is happyness!
and that sole follower is of course a very  good friend.
thanks, win, for always being supportive =)

Pico de Loro....Our 1st Day Trek.

In preparation for our Quirino Trek this coming August 24, 2012 where we are expected to trek for 4 hours and cross at least 7 rivers according to the coordinators, my travel buddy Marie and I joined the practice climb at Pico de Loro, Maragondon, Cavite last Sunday - August 19, 2012.

It was our first day trek and the first time we encounter this kind of trail (not that we've been to a lot of climbs) it was mostly rocky and muddy due to the rain the previous night. 

Compared to Mt. Pulag's Ambangeg trail, Mt. Pico for an amateur like me is  a hard terrain.

(Marie's pair of not so white socks)

(May's footprint in the mud?)

The climb was unbelievably tiring, I'm not sure though what exhausted me most, the trekking or the laughing?

  

Marie and I really had a good laugh on the way up and down. Everybody was funny and friendly.

(Doc, sir Arnold, Pong, Uncle and May)

(Uncle, the funny man!)

This climb is one for the record, we got lost on our way to the summit and the rain started pouring on our  way down........ good thing Marie and I came prepared.

Finally, we got to use the rain coat that we bought last year for the Pulag climb and which we've been bringing in all our trips.

(Marie with one of our new found friends)

While the boys try to find our way, the girls took the opportunity to rest.

(Spell foggy....)

Though we didn't have a clear view of the Parrot's Beak it didn't stop us from having our photo-ops. 

Look even Patrick came to joins us!

This is us before going up......

And when we came down.....

Since Marie and I didn't experience going to the rockies, there is definitely going to be a part 2!

Thanks Marie and May for the photos and special thanks to sir Arnold's relatives for accommodating us and allowing  us to have quick shower and preparing us a dinner.

birthday messages......

It's so touching to read my colleagues birthday messages and wishes......i'm glad to know that I make a lot of  people smile =)

And the over pouring wish for my "The One"........let's just wait and see!

Proud Moment Of A Once Irate Customer Service Associate

This may not be the most rhetorical and eloquent commendation in the history of customer service but I am truly proud of this.

*************

*************

It’s not every day that a client gets out of his way to write of his appreciation of the good service rendered him.

I was so delighted I thought of framing this letter if only to remind myself of my realization that I actually love what I am doing.

And to immortalize the joy this letter has given me and the gratitude of Mr Antonio Uy I thought of writing a blog entry out of it.

No, I won’t narrate a blow by blow account of how I assisted this client but rather share a short story of how miserable I was doing something I thought I would never ever learn to like.

In the call center where I work I came to be known as the “irate customer service associate”, a label I myself coined as an admission of guilt.

I used to loosely joke about it around the office back when I thought I was invincible because of this reputation.

I was too caught up with the thought that I needed to protect myself from the agents who seizes every opportunity to terrify you, take advantage of you and belittle you in an environment where most of them believe they are greater than us.

Somewhere along the way this idea was planted in my head and a couple of more encounters with these superior beings cemented my belief that they are my enemies and I was doomed from then on.

I have created a hostile and unsympathetic facade towards them to shield myself. I took it by heart to the point where the facade was no longer just a facade it eventually became who I am, in their eyes.

The fear that I have unknowingly instilled to a number of agents and their secretaries backfired when it developed to hatred and I just woke up one day and realized that this group of people who hated me have grown exponentially.

My reputation as the arrogant CSA has spread like an incurable disease that even the innocent and the kinder ones were not spared.

I was not happy being a customer service associate and every day at work became a fight for survival for me but, sadly, I can’t afford to lose the job.

I was spiralling downwards as I amassed complaints after complaints from the agents and the clients alike and this didn’t go unnoticed.

Soon I was in and out of the “aquarium” where my supervisor/ manager would patiently talk to me about duties, responsibilities, commitments, chances and the freedom to choose every time I will receive a complaint.

I needed to shape up and though I know exactly what I should do I have too much pride I refused to do it.

God must have heard the pleas of the people who sincerely care for me He finally woke me up from the nightmare of my own doing.

He sent me the wakeup call I was sure would come, not once but twice and the rest is history.

The damaged relationship I have with some of the agents and their secretaries may never be fixed and the negative label attached to my name may take time for me to clear but as long as I have people who sincerely believe that there is still good in me and hope for me, I will continue trudging that road to recovery.

This commendation coupled with the heartfelt encouragements of real friends and the incessant guidance of my immediate managers will aid me as I try to make a more positive label for myself and as I take a shot to improve myself to becoming an effective customer service provider.

********* 

A couple of other commendation from apprceative clients.......

Opportunity!

While paying for our movie tickets this afternoon at G4, this flyer caught my attention.

I would really love to give this a try and I have until July 5 to muster enough courage to send an entry.

I just pray that my fear won't get the better of me and waste an opportunity which i believe is a blessing from up above.